Despite fierce campaigning before Christmas by charities, unions, organisations and Martin Lewis, 10 million State Pensioners will not receive up to £300 this winter to help with higher heating costs. Winter Fuel Payments started going out in batches to older people on means-tested benefits in October and will continue until January 29.
However, there are a series of one-off payments due this winter to help people with the higher cost of living during the colder months. Much-like Winter Fuel Payments these started landing in accounts in November and December, but payments will continue over the next few weeks while others, like the Warm Home Discount Scheme, can be claimed until the end of March.
Some of the payments listed below are only available in Scotland and a few are means-tested, but it’s important to be aware that the Scottish Government received £41 million to boost the devolved equivalent of the Household Support Fund, so if you are in or out of work and struggling financially, contact your local council and explain your situation – find out more here.
Help for households this winter
There are five separate one-off payments being issued to families, disabled people or those over State Pension age before the end of winter. Most of these lump sums are designed to help with higher heating bills, but if you are struggling to heat your home, contact your energy supplier to see if you are entitled to any help.
Support pages for Big Six energy suppliers
- British Gas – energy support fund
- EDF – customer support fund
- E.ON next – energy fund
- Octopus – customer help fund
- OVO – extra support fund
- Scottish Power – hardship fund
Winter Fuel Payment, £100-£300
The Scottish Government has also adopted the eligibility rule change for its new replacement benefit for Winter Fuel Payments during the 2024/25 financial year – Pension Age Winter Heating Payment. However, DWP will issue payments to more than 125,000 Scots pensioners before administration and delivery is transferred to Social Security Scotland for winter 2025/26.
The Scottish Government has also confirmed that all pensioners will receive a minimum of £100 next winter. Those on Pension Credit or other means-tested benefits will receive either £200 or £300.
Payments date: Most payments were made automatically in November or December, but these will continue until January 29.
Letters have been sent to all pensioners with details of the exact amount they will receive and whether someone is eligible for a payment.
The one-off payment is worth between £100 and £300, however, how much someone receives depends on their age and household circumstances. It’s important to be aware that the £300 will only be paid to those born before September 23, 1944.
People in a care home receive £100 and those aged between 66 and 79 receive £200.
In addition to being over 66 to get the payment, people must also have been in receipt of a means-tested benefit, such as Pension Credit. People over State Pension age in receipt of an income-related benefit during the qualifying week (September 16-22, 2024) will receive the payment automatically – the money is tax-free and will not affect other benefits.
Full details on how to claim if the payment does not arrive by January 29 can be fond on GOV.UK here.
Child Winter Heating Payment – £251.50
Payments date: Social Security Scotland issued payments between October and December. If your child is eligible and did not receive the payment, contact Social Security Scotland on 0800 182 2222, full details on mygov.scot here.
The Child Winter Heating Payment is for disabled children and young people under the age of 19, in Scotland only.
The £251.50 lump sum is automatically paid to families of children and young people up to the age of 19 who already get certain levels of qualifying disability benefits.
These include the highest rate of the care component of Child Disability Payment or Disability Living Allowance for Children. The lump sum is also paid to those receiving the enhanced rate of the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP), or the enhanced rate of the daily living component of Adult Disability Payment (ADP).
To be eligible for the payment, individual’s , must have been in claim for one of the benefits mentioned above during the qualifying week, which was September 16-22, 2024. Full details on payments can be found here.
Winter Heating Payment – £58.75
Payments date: Payments started going out in batches on December 6 and will continue until the end of February. If you are eligible, you will receive a letter from Social Security Scotland before they make the payment.
This payment is only available to those on an income-related benefit living in Scotland and replaced the £25 Cold Weather Payment delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) two years ago. Unlike the DWP benefit, it is not dependent on a sustained period of cold weather in a specific location but is an annual, one-off payment made no matter the temperature.
Qualifying benefits include:
- Universal Credit
- Pension Credit
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Support for Mortgage Interest
The majority of people eligible for the Winter Heating Payment during the qualifying period (November 4-10) will receive the payment automatically, with no need to apply. Full details on payments can be found here.
Warm Home Discount – £150 paid directly to energy supplier
Payment date: DWP administers this payment which is paid directly to energy suppliers and added as credit to a customer’s account. It is not a cash payment.
If you’re a credit customer the £150 will be added to your electricity account and if you’re on Pay As You Go or Prepayment, you’ll be sent a voucher that you can use to top-up your meter. This will be applied to accounts before March 31.
The Warm Home Discount Scheme is designed to help people on a low income and on certain income-related benefits such as Universal Credit or Pension Credit.
To find out if your energy supplier is accepting new claims, visit their website. Full details about the scheme and eligibility can be found here.
DWP Christmas Bonus – £10
Payment date: Payments started going out in mid-December, but if you have not received the £10 from the DWP you can now make a claim. Full details on how to make a claim for the 2024/25 Christmas Bonus can be found on GOV.UK here.
It is a one-off, tax-free £10 payment made to people in receipt of State Pension or those claiming certain other benefits during the qualifying week (December 2-8, 2024).
Eligible benefits:
- Adult Disability Payment
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- Attendance Allowance
- Carer’s Allowance
- Carer Support Payment
- Child Disability Payment
- Constant Attendance Allowance (paid under Industrial Injuries or War Pensions schemes)
- Contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance (once the main phase of the benefit is entered after the first 13 weeks of claim)
- Disability Living Allowance
- Incapacity Benefit at the long-term rate
- Industrial Death Benefit (for widows or widowers)
- Mobility Supplement
- Pension Credit – the guarantee element
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- State Pension (including Graduated Retirement Benefit)
- Severe Disablement Allowance (transitionally protected)
- Unemployability Supplement or Allowance (paid under Industrial Injuries or War Pensions schemes)
- War Disablement Pension at State Pension age
- War Widow’s Pension
- Widowed Mother’s Allowance
- Widowed Parent’s Allowance
- Widow’s Pension